Glass circulating apparatus



`April 18, 1939. ||.r R. scHuTz GLASS CIRCULATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 16, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 mh IR. .7A Y o..|o E ollw ,w olm 4... w o, Tf

April 18, 1939. H. R. scHUTz GLASS CIRCULATING APPARATUS esneets-sheet 3 Filed Sept. 16, 1936 INVENTOIL HR.'cbuz,

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6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTR. Schutz,

ATTO

u BY M 7 April 18, 1939.

H. R. SCHUTZ 2,154,535

GLASS CIRCULATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 16, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 BY www A TTO S.

smaad Apr. 1s, 1939 UNITED As'rA'rlzs almas GLASS omcum'nsc mm'rus umm a. schuin, Toledo, oma. minor u ubbey Glas! Company, a corporation of liio Application 16, 1936, 4Serial No. 101,117 c 12 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for conditioning molten glass to prepare the glass prior to supplying the same to an apparatus for making glassware. More part. ticularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for circulating molten glass contained in a gathering pool or forehearth past a gathering region or regions from which mold charges are repeatedly withdrawn by means of a suction gathering -l device which is periodically moved into gathering relation to the surface of the molten glass.

In the gathering of charges pf molten glass from the surface of a gathering pool by a suction gatheringdevice, the surface of the glass at the gathering station is chilled by contact with the relatively cold gathering means and with the shearing means which is employed to sever the withdrawn mold charges from the body of glass in the gathering pool. Chilling ofthe surface of the glass in the region of the gathering station is further augmented by the proximity of the gathering region to the opening of the furnace through which the suction gathering device periodically enters. Not only does the glass become chilled in the region of the gathering station through repeated contact with the relatively cold instrumentalities employed for gathering and severing the charges from the pool, but this cooling is attended by the presence of chilled spots produced by the "tails or cut-olf of semihardened glass created in the severing operation which fall back into the pool and become entrained in subsequently gathered charges and cause imperfections in the finished ware.

The principal object of the present invention is `to provide a practical means for removing such localized chilled glass from the region -of-the gathering station and for replacing such chilled glass with hot glass by causing a circulation or movement of the glass, especially the surface glass, contained in the gathering pool or forehearth. Such circulation of glass in the forehearth not only results in the displacement of the chilled glass by properly conditioned hot glass, but in a movement of the chilled glassE inwardly of the pool where itis remelted and reassimilated by the main body of the glass in the furnace.

Instrumentalities for creating a circulation of glass in a gathering pool or forehearth have been suggested prior to this application. Some of these instrumentalities consist of impellers that are removed from the glass and reintroduced thereinto at each stroke thereof. thus creating in the glass the very surface imperfections which they are designed to eliminate. Devices of this nature have a tendency to subject the glass to intermittent impulses which produce variations in the level of the glass.- Other devicesthat have been employed for creating a circulation of glass in the gathering pool or forehearth require that the structure of the forehearth or of the adjoining furnace (or even of the suction device employed vfor withdrawing charges o1 glass) be materially altered to accommodate the same.

Accordingly, it is a further object of the inventionto provide a ymechanism for creating a circulation of glass in a gathering pool or forehearth which will not require that any appreciable alterations be made to either the forehearth or adjoining furnace and which will not require an appreciable change in, or addition to, any of the usual types of suction machines which are used for. gathering chargesof molten glass from the gathering pool.

It is another object of the invention to provide an impelling device for maintaining a circulation of glass in the gathering pool which is not alternately exposed to the glass andatmosphere and which operates without producing any waves or variations of level in the glass.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an impelling device which is mounted exteriorly of the furnace structure in order that the operative working parts thereof may at all times be accessible and exposed to view and in which the impelling instrument proper is capable of introduction into and withdrawal from the furnace opening for inspection without necessitating a cessation of the operation of the impelling apparatus. f

A still further object of the invention is to provide a glass impelling apparatus of the't'ype set forth above in which the impelling instrument proper, together with various bearings and other parts thereof, are adequately cooled by the circulation of water therethrough.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an impelling apparatus in which the impelling instrument is movable into, operable in, and is movable out of the, furnace through the usual furnace opening from which the mold charges are withdrawn without interfering with the operation of the forming machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specincatiom,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a glass circulating apparatus manufactured in accordance with the principles of the present invention showing the same operatively associated with a furnace and forehearth construction. In this view a fragmentary vertical section of the furnace and forehearth construction is shown Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus, the

. furnace being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view, partly in section, of a yoke construction employed in connection with the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6. is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 4;

Flg. 'I is a sectional view taken substantially along the line I-I of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. '1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially g along the line 2-2 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line Il-i 2 of Fig. 9.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3, elting tank or furnace ii is connected thro openings I2 anclA i3 with a forehearth I4 adapted to contain a supply body of molten glass, the variation in level of which is indicated by the broken lines a-a and b-'b. 'Ihe forehearth I4 is of proper construction for. supplying molten glass to the suction gatherer I5 of a glassware forming machine (not shown) and is provided with a partition i2 having its lower end extending below the level b--b of the glass and adapted to be immersed in the glass to seal on the forehearth from the fire space and prevent the furnace draft from interfering with draft conditions in the forehearth and vice versa.

'I'he forehearth I4 is provided with an opening I1 at its front end through which the suction `gatherer i5 may be inserted to gather the glass at the region I2. 'I'he gathering is provided with a shearing means i2 to sever the gathered mass from the glass in the forehearth. The suction gatherer and shear are shown somewhat diagrammatically, since they may be manipulated in any well known manner, the gatherer i5 being rst o I9' which is preferably in the form of a bronze casting provided with a relatively thin triangular shaped impeller vane 22 which extends radially from the body of the casting. The head I2' is provided with a threaded opening 2i into which e5 one end of an elongated tubular stem 22 or impeller-shaft is threadedly received. The head I2' normally occupies an inclined position slightly above the surface of the gla in the forehearth in such a manner that axial rotation of the same 70 will cause the vane 22 to dip into the glass in the manner of a paddle wheel and impel the glass through the opening i2 (Fig. 3l) in the circuitous direction indicated by the arrows. The stem 22 extends obliquely from the glass through the 1s opening I1 in the front wall of the forehearth arrasar and is journalled for rotation in a pair of antifriction bushings 22 and 24 which are mounted in respective aligned guides 25 and 2l carried by a hollow supporting' yoke 21 positioned exteriorly of the furnace.

'Ihe stern 22 is capable of limited axial adjustment in the guides 25 in order that the head I2' may be adjusted relative to the gathering region i2 and relative to the level of the glass contained in thefOrehearth. Toward this end, .a sleeve 22, split at one end, surrounds the stem 22 and is clamped thereto by means of a clamping nut and bolt assembly 22. 'Ihe sleeve 22 provides a bearing surface for the stem 22 in the bushing 22 of the guide 25, and in order to prevent axial shifting of the sleeve 22, a flange 20 is formed on the split end thereof while a thrust collar 2| is disposed on the other end thereof. By loosening the nut and bolt assembly 22, it is obvious'that vlimited axial adjustment of the stem 22 may be effected insofar as the guide 25 is concerned. A sleeve 22 having a bevel gear 22 mounted on one end thereof surrounds the stem 22 within the bushing 24. 'I'his sleeve, together with the gear 22, is keyed to the stem 22 as at 24. A set screw 25 serves to prevent axial shifting of the sleeve 22 on the stem, while the gear 22 itself serves to prevent shifting of the sleeve 22 in the bushing 24. Loosening of the set screw 25 will permit limited axial adjustment of the stem 22 as far as the guide 22 is concerned.

In order to cool the head I2' which is subjected to intense heat by direct contact with the molten glass and to cool the stem 22 which is subjected to the heat generated by radiation and contact with the hot furnace gases, means is pro-- vided for circulating water or other cooling medium through these elements. Accordingly. a bame plate 42 extends across the' interior of the hollow head I2 and is spaced as at 4l from the end thereof. A web 42 connects the baille plate 42 to the wall of the head i9 and forms vthe sole support for the same. A conduit 42 which is spaced from the circumferential wall of the stem 22 extends axially therethrough and has one end thereof anchored in the web 42 in such a manner as to communicate with the space behind the baille plate 42. The other end of the conduit 42 is journalled in a packing gland 44 disposed with- \in a journal box 45 mounted on an end of the stem 22. 'I'his latter end of the conduit 42 communicates through a flexible tube 42 or conduit with a high pressure water distributing manifold 41 which is provided with a lead in conduit 42. Water supplied to the manifold 41 through the lead in conduit 42 passes through the journal box 45 and the axial conduit 42 and enters the impeller head i2' behind the baille plate 42 from whence it passes around the end of the plate 42, through the space-4i, land is returned to the journal box 45 through the space existing between the axial conduit 42 andthe inner wall of the stem 22. 'Ihe journal box is provided with an internal groove 42, with which a series of apertures 52 provided in the wall of the tubular stem 22 communicates, and into which the returning water passes and is discharged by means of a discharge conduit 5|.

The journal box 45 is provided with'a lateral ange 22. The flange 22 and guide 25 are provided with a pair of aligned axial bores 21 and 22 respectively. A guide pin 22` extends into the bores 21 and 22 and is adapted to be anchored therein by means of set screws |22 and Ill respectively. The guide pin 22 serves to maintain escasas ly, servetodischarge'the cooling waterfrom the hollow guides and 28.

The hollow yoke 21 is cooled by means of circulating water which passes from the manifold I1, through a conduit Il -to the interior thereof and which is expelled through 'a discharge conduit I8.

'Ihe stem 22 and impeller head I8' are rotated by means of the bevel gear 28 which is driven from a similar bevel gear l1 mounted on one end `of a shaft 58 that extends centrally and axially i2 and 88 which are in alignment, and a pair of lower yoke guides 58 and 55 which are in alignment with each otherand with the guides 82 and 68. The yoke il is supported for swinging movement in a horizontal plane on a king pin 68, the

opposite ends of which are anchored by means of set screws 51 extending through the guides 82 and i8. The king pin 88 is tubular in form and is journalled for vertical sliding movement and for rotation in a guide 88 carried by a bracket or support 85 secured to one of the stationary supports 18 of the furnace II.

It is apparent that the impelling head I8', together with all of its supporting and driving` instrumentalities which are carried on the outer end of the sleeve 58, and which includes the yoke 21 and stem 22, are capable of being swung from an operative position within the furnace II to an inoperative position outside of the furnace where access thereto may be had for the purpose of inspection, replacementvor repair of any of the parts thereof. In order to support these various instrumentalities in their operative position and to give to the apparatus when in use a degree of stability, while at the same time preventing accidental swinging movement of the impelling head and adjacent driving mechanism, a supporting and locking screw III carried by a bracket I II mounted on the framework 18 of the furnace II near the furnace opening I1, is provided with a pointed end II2 (Fig. 9) adapted to engage a recess III formed in a nipple Ill positioned in the underneath side of a sleeve IIS which surrounds the sleeve 59 in the vicinity of the yokev21 and which is keyed thereto as at 21'. Turning of the locking screw III in such a manner as tovwithdraw the pointed end I I2 thereof from the recess I I8 releasesthe impelling head I8 and associated driving instrumentalities in order that they may be withdrawn from the furnace II through the opening I1 into which these instrumentalities extend.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 9 and 10, a tie rod 8| connects the yoke 88 with the sleeve II5 and serves to support the latter from the former and to in turn support the impeller proper and its associated parts when the same are swimg outwardly from the furnace opening I1.

In order to adjust the inclination of the stem upstandingfiange or web-"|82 upon the upper end'of which there is disposed yand secured a guide block cage |88. A screw threaded guide rod I extends transversely through the cage |88 and has mounted thereon a guide block |05 which is laterally movable in the cage |08. 'The' block |85 is recessed as at |88 and a roller I81, carried by the upper end of a lever arm |08 which is secured by cap screws |88 to the yoke 21, is guided in the recess |88 of the block |85. It will be seen that turning movement of the rod I in one direction or the other will effect an adjustment of the inclination of the stem 22 either to adjust the impelling head I8' to the surface of the glass, or to align the head 4I8' with the furnace opening I1 as shown lndotted lines in Fig. 1 to permit withdrawal of the head and its associated instrumentalities from the furnace.

'l'he projecting end of the shaft 58 which extends through the sleeve 58 and yoke 88 has mounted thereon a bevel gear 1I (Figs. -2 and 4) which meshes with a similar gear 12 mounted on 22 which carries the impeller head I0' and to adjust thelatter to the surface of the glass in thev forehearth, .the sleeve III isprovided with anv a sleeve that is keyed as at 14 to the upper Y the yoke guide 85 which is bolted as at 16 to the yoke member 88 for limited vertical adjustment thereon. The sleeve 13 which carries the gear 12 is rotatably supported in antlfriction bearings 'I1 carried by the guide 55 and thus, inasmuch as the sleeve 18, guide 65, and yoke 60 maintain the same relative vertical spacing, regardless of the vertical adjustment of the swinging yoke 60, the gears 1I and 12 are held in constant mesh.

A sleeve 18, provided with an annular shoulder 18 upon which the weight of the yoke 60 is carried, surrounds the shaft 15 and extends into the lower guide 84. The sleeve 18 extends through a guide 8II carried by a bracket 8I mounted on the support 10 and is anchored by means of a set screw 82 to the yoke 88 and is supported for limited vertical adjustment in the apparatus upon a sleeve 83 which surrounds the shaft 15 and which is threadedly received in a guide 84 carried by a bracket 85 supported on the stationary support 18 of the furnace II. A set screw 84' serves to lock the sleeve 82 in its adjusted position to prevent creeping of the same in operation. An antifriction bearing 88 for the shaft 15 is interposed between the sleeves 18 and 83 and is nested within a spanner head 81 by means of which the sleeve 88 is vertically adjusted. Any vertical adjustment of the sleeve 88 serves to effect vertical adjustment of the yoke 80, vertical motion or thrust being transmitted through the antifriction bearing 88, sleeve 83 and shoulder 19 to the yoke 80.

The lower end of the shaft 15 is connected through a flexible coupling to a shaft section 8l which in turn is connected through a flexible coupling 92 to the driven shaft 98 of a gearl reduction device 8l which is driven through a chain and sprocket mechanism by an electric motor M. The motor M and gear reduction device 84 are suitably supported from the stationary framework 1li of the furnace II adjacent the bottom thereof.`

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: y l.^ 1he combinationwith a furnace provided with an opening in its front wall through which mold charges are withdrawn and delivered to a glassware forming machine, of a glass circulating mechanism comprisingl a verticallyextending rotatable shaft positioned in close proximity to said front, wall. a horizontal shaft pivotally mountedl for horizontal swinging movement about e axis f 'said first mentioned shaft, means for effecting driving connection between said shafts throughout the entire range of swinging movement of said horizontal shaft, an impeller shaft pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement about the axis of said horizontal shaft, means for eifecting driving connec-v tion between said impeller shaft and horizontal shaft throughout the entire range of swinging means for effecting driving connection betweenv said shafts throughout the entire range of swinging ,movement of said horizontal shaft, means for elevating and lowering said horizontal shaft while maintaining said driving relationship, an impeller shaft pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement about the axis of said horizontal shaft, means for effecting driving connection between "said impeller shaft and horizontal shaft throughout the entirev range of swinging movement of said impeller shaft, an impeller mounted on one end of said impeller shaft, and means for driving said first mentioned shaft.

3. The combination `with a furnace provided with an opening in its'front wall through which mold charges are withdrawn and delivered to a glassware forming machine,'of a glass circulating mechanism comprising a vertically extending rotatable shaft positioned in close proximity to said front wall, a Vhorizontally extending shaft pivotally mounted for horizontal swinging move` ment about the axis of said rst mentioned shaft, means for effecting driving connection between said shafts throughout the entire range of swinging movement of said horizontal shaft,- an impeller shaft pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement about the axis of said horizontal shaft, means for effecting driving connection between said impeller shaft and horizontal shaft in the entire rangeJof swinging movement of said impeller shaft, means permitting axial adjustment of said impeller shaft while maintaining said driving relationship with said horizontal shaft, animpeller mounted on one end of said impeller shaft, and means for-driving said first mentioned shaft. y

4. The combination with a furnace provided with an opening in its front wall through which mold charges are withdrawn and delivered to a glassware forming machine, of a glass circulating mechanism comprising a vertically extending vertical swinging movement about the axis of horizontal shaft, means for effecting driving connection 'between said impeller shaft and horizontal'shaft throughout. the entire range of swinging movement of said'impeller shaft, means permitting axial adjustment of said impeller ,shaft while maintaining said driving relationship with saidjhorizontal shaft, an impeller mounted on one end of said impeller shaft, and means for driving said nrst'mentioned shaft.

5. 'I'he combination with a furnace provided with anopening Iin its front -wall through which mold charges are withdrawn and delivered to a glassware forming machine, of a .glass circulatiirst mentioned' ing mechanism comprising a vertically extending rotatable shaft positioned in close proximity to said front wall, a horizontal shaft pivotally mounted for horizontal., swinging movement aboutv the axis ofv said flrst mentioned shaft, means for effecting driving connection between said shafts throughout the entire range of swinging movement of said horizontal shaft, an impeller shaft pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement about the axis of said'horizontal shaft, means for effecting driving connection between said impeller shaft and horizontal shafts throughout the entire range of swingingmovement of said impeller shaft,means for adjusting v the' inclination of said impeller shaft, an impeller mounted on one end of said impeller shaft,

and means for driving said first mentioned shaft.

between said shafts throughout the range of' swinging movement of said horizontally extending shaft, an impeller shaft pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement about the axis of said horizontal shaft. means for effecting driving connection between said impeller shaft and horizontal shaft throughout the entire range of swinging movement of said impeller shaft', means for adjusting the inclination of said impeller shaft, means permitting axial adjustment of said impeller shaft, an impeller mounted on an end of said impeller shaft, and means for driving said first mentioned shaft.

7. The combination with a furnace provided with an opening in its front wall through which mold charges are withdrawn and delivered to a glassware forming machine, -of a glass circulating mechanism comprising a vertically extending rotatable shaft positioned in close proximity to said front wall, a horizontally extending shaft pivotally mounted'for horizontal swinging movement about the axis of said ilrstmentioned -shaft from a position in close proximity tothe front wall of-the furnaceto a'position remote from said front wall, means for releasably locking said.

horizontally extending shaft in said position of close proximity to the furnace front wall, means for effecting driving connection between said shafts throughout the range of swinging move- 5 ment of said horizontally extending shaft, an impeller shaft pvotally mounted for vertical swinging movement about the axis of said horizontal shaft, means for effecting driving connection between said impeller shaft and horizontal shaft throughout the entire range of swinging movement of said impeller shaft, an impeller mounted on an end of said impeller shaft, 'and means for driving said first mentioned shaft.

8. The combination with `a furnace provided with an opening in its front wall through which mold charges are withdrawn and delivered .to a glassware forming machine, of a support, a carrier pivoted to said support for swinging movement toward and away from said opening, an 90 impeller shaft mounted for rotation on said carrier and adapted to extend into said furnace when said carrier is moved toward said opening, an impeller mounted on one end of said impeller shaft, and means for rotating said shaft. 25 9. The combination with a furnace provided with an opening in its front wall through which mold charges are withdrawn and delivered to a glassware forming machine, of a support positioned adjacent said front wall, a carrier pivoted 30 to said support for horizontal swinging movement toward and away from said opening,I means for releasably locking said carrier in a position of close proximity to said wall, an impeller shaft mounted for rotation on .said carrier and g5 adapted to extend into said furnace when said carrier is in its locked position, an impeller mounted on one end of said shaft, and means for rotating said shaft.

10. The combination with a furnace provided o with an opening in its front wall through which mold charges are withdrawn and delivered to a glassware forming machine, of a support positioned adjacent said front wall, a carrier pivoted to said support for horizontal swinging moves ment toward and away from said opening, an

impeller shaft mounted for rotation on said carrier and adapted to extend into said furnace when laid carrierisinclose proximltytosaidfrontf wall, said shaft being tiltable on said carrier to vary the inclination thereof, means for tilting said shaft, an impeller mounted on one end of said shaft, and means for rotating said shaft.

11. An apparatus for. circulating molten glass 5 within the forehearth of a refining furnace provided with an opening through which charges of molten glass are withdrawn comprising a vertically extending rotatable shaft positioned in close proximity to said furnace, a yoke member 10 pivoted to a stationary support 'adjacent the upper end of said shaft, said yoke having a guide into which the upper end of said shaft extends, a sleeve carried by said yoke and projecting laterally therefrom, a second yoke member carried by 15 the outer end of said sleeve, a. horizontally extending shaft rotatably journalled in said sleeve, the upper end of said vertical shaft and the inner end of said horizontal shaft terminating adjacent each other and being provided with intermeshing gears. an impeller shaft rotatably Jour-l nalled in said second yoke member and adapted to project through said furnace opening, the outer end of said horizontal shaft and the inner end of said impeller shaft terminating adJacent each other and being provided with intermeshing gears, means for tilting said second yoke-member on said sleeve to adjust the inclination of said impeller shaft, and an impeller positioned on the outer end of said impeller shaft.

l2. The combination with a furnace provided with an opening in its front wall through which mold charges are withdrawn and delivered to a glassware forlning machine, of a support mounted for swinging movement about a vertical'axis ad' 35 jacent said front wall, a horizontal shaft rotatably journalled in said support for swinging movement therewith from a position in close proximity to said front wall to a position remote therefrom, means for rotating said shaft, an im- 40 peller shaft geared to said horizontal shaft and supported for swinging movement therewith. said impeller shaft being adapted to extend into said furnace through said opening when said horizontal shaft is in. close proximity to said front wall, and an impeller mounted on said impeller s Shaft.

v HAROLD R. SCHUTZ. 

